Page 59 of Home Again
“Remind me to never leave our kids alone around you,” Jax said pointedly to Luca.
“Every family has a crazy uncle,” Ella said. “Guess Luca is ours.”
“Where’s the ladies room?” Brandi chirped.
“Down the hall and to the left,” Derek answered.
“Really, Luca?” Jax asked once she was out of earshot. “Why tonight of all nights?”
“What?” He feigned innocence. “What’s wrong with Mandy?”
“Brandi,” the rest of us shot back.
Luca rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “How do you still not remember her name?”
Ella shrugged. “You know, they really might be made for each other. She can’t remember his name either.”
Luca snorted as Ella’s phone rang from her purse, and she quickly extracted it from her bag,
“It’s Grace,” she exclaimed, swiping across the screen. “Hey, honey! You’re on speaker.”
Grace was greeted by a cacophony of voices.
“There was no way I was going to miss Sunday dinner,” Grace said. “I miss you guys.”
“We miss you too,” Liv called out.
“Aunt Livvie,” Grace cried. “How are you? I can’t wait to meet Chloe and Jonathan.”
Jonathan’s eyes lit up. “That’s me.”
“That’s right, buddy.” Jax nodded. “That’s your Aunt Grace.”
“We’re doing good,” Liv replied. “I think we’re all starting to adjust.”
“And Liv is a great mom,” Jax added, giving Liv’s shoulder a squeeze.
“Of course she is,” Grace said. “We all knew she would be.”
“We can’t wait for you to see the bakery. It already looks so different,” Katie chimed in. “We’ve got about a month of renovations left, but it's starting to come together.”
Grace squealed. “I can’t wait.”
“How’s England?” Dallas asked.
Grace sighed. “I’m exhausted, but it’s been so much fun. The weather here kind of sucks, though. It rains so much.”
“How much longer are you gone for?” Derek asked.
“Well, actually, it’s funny you should ask.” Grace paused for a moment. “We were supposed to be gone until the first of September, but Sam has been having some trouble with his voice. I haven’t even gotten to tell Cash this part yet because it just happened. Sam saw a specialist this morning, and it turns out he has nodes.”
“He haswhat?” Ella asked incredulously.
Luca snickered. “Sam has nudes.”
Grace laughed. “Nodes—nodules on his vocal cords. The doctor has put him on strict vocal rest effective immediately.”
